Receive Board
input on and approval of the proposed 2009 Legislative Priorities to
be submitted to the TJPDC and VACo

STAFF CONTACT(S):

Messrs. Tucker,
Foley, Davis, Bowman, Blount

LEGAL REVIEW:
Yes

AGENDA DATE:

August 6, 2008

ACTION:
X
INFORMATION:

CONSENT AGENDA:

ACTION:
INFORMATION:

ATTACHMENTS:
YES

REVIEWED BY:

BACKGROUND:

In July 2007, the Board of
Supervisors approved the County’s 2008 Legislative Priorities that were then
submitted to the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (TJPDC) and
Virginia Association of Counties (VACo). In October 2007, the Board approved the
TJPDC’s legislative program that incorporated the County’s 2008 Legislative
Priorities. The General Assembly convened in January 2008, completed its regular
session in April and held a special session on transportation in June and July.
Staff is providing this executive summary to receive the Board’s input and
approval before submitting the proposed 2009 Legislative Priorities (Attachment
A) to the TJPDC and VACo.

For information on how the
County’s 2008 Legislative Priorities fared in the legislature, please see the
“2008 Legislative Priorities Report (Attachment B).” The report details any
action taken on priorities, an assessment of what priorities should be continued
in the future and links to the final legislative reports of the TJPDC, VACo and
Virginia Municipal League (VML).

In response to legislative
and funding actions in recent General Assembly sessions, staff proposes new
priorities for 2009 regarding impact fee authority and drug court funding. In
the coming months, as the Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) regional
transit authority study continues, it may be appropriate to add a priority
supporting enabling legislation to create a regional transit authority once the
details of such an authority are resolved. After the Board’s input and approval,
staff will submit the adopted priorities to the TJPDC and VACo for consideration
into their respective legislative programs. The 2009 TJPDC Legislative Program
will return to the Board in the fall for further input and approval.

BUDGET IMPACT:

Should the state provide
additional funding for the County’s “Child Care for Low Income Working Families”
priority, a local match will be required. Beyond that priority, there are no
specific, identifiable budget impacts, although the County’s legislative
priorities seek to ensure the state adequately funds its mandated
responsibilities and does not jeopardize the County’s ability to effectively and
efficiently implement the policies (including fiscal) and programs that it deems
necessary.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Staff recommends the Board
approve the proposed 2009 Legislative Priorities (Attachment A), and any
additions it feels are appropriate, for submission to the TJPDC and VACo.